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In a speech in Whitehall, Mr Clegg said: "That's why those people who behaved so despicably last week should have to look their victims in the eye.

"They should have to see for themselves the consequences of their actions and they should be put to work cleaning up the damage and destruction they have caused so they don't do it again."

However, Harry Fletcher, Assistant General Secretary of the probation union, Napo, said: “This sounds the same as existing unpaid work schemes. It would have to be a condition of parole. However one-third of those placed on unpaid work now do not complete their orders. “

Mr Clegg confirmed that an independent panel is to be set up to give victims of the riots a chance to "have their voice heard".

He stressed it will not be a public inquiry but will be chaired independently and will report within six to nine months to the leaders of all three main political parties.

He said: "It won't be a public inquiry, it won't be established under the Inquiries Act, but it will serve as a way in which victims and communities can have their voice heard.”

The Cabinet Office will also be tendering for a contract to do research into the communities affected by the disturbances to find out more about "what happened, who did what and why they did it".

Mr Clegg also backed Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith's plan to strip some benefits from rioters but warned that there could be "unintended consequences" unless the scheme was carefully thought out .